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Skinner second Briton at World Cross Country Championships
Michael Skinner was the second Briton to finish at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh. The 28 year old Blackheath & Bromley athlete finished in 66th place in the strongest middle distance race in the world.
Last year in Mombasa Skinner was also the second Briton home that time in 62nd but this year the field was stronger as there was no accompanying short course race.
Closer to home Jamie Atkinson won the Paddock Wood in a useful 70.27 just six seconds clear of runner up Julian Rendall of Tonbridge. He now looks forward to the London Marathon in two weeks time. With Jay Galley 23rd (1.18.25) Kev May 29th (1.19.22) and Rob Hall 53rd (1.18.25) the Club were third in the team race. Other finishers were 113. Tony Crowder 1.26.16 147. Richard Hall 1.28.16 278. Mark Skelly 1.34.40 431. Trevor DelaHoy 1.39.37 445. Andy Riches 1.39.56 451. Dave King 1.40.05 452. Justine Eastbury 1.40.07 643. Keith Duffy-Penny 1.45.29 1048. Ramon Saiz 1.57.16.
The end of the cross country season was marked by the Closing 5 Mile Yacht Handicap race at West Wickham. With the slowest runner starting first and the quickest last, the ideal for the handicapper is that all runners finish at the same time.
However, this never happens in reality even when the handicapper is a Professor of Mathematics, as is Past President Chris Haines. Elle Harker had obviously slipped under his radar as the 25 year old school teacher came home in a net time of 21.47 well clear of the "flying bricklayer" 73 year old Ron Chambers who finished second in 23.10 with 18 year old schoolboy Darren Ko in third.
Fastest individual of the day was another 18 year old Alex Bruce Littlewood. The Kent Junior Champion showed he is fast getting back to full fitness after injury with a time of 30.24 for an over distance course. Alex Gibbins was second in 31.13 followed by 14 year old Philip Sesemann who ran 32 minutes exactly.
Quickest woman was another school teacher Jennie Butler in 35.32 with veteran Jane Bradshaw next fastest with 38.30 despite a fall early on. Jessica Jones who is only 13 was third in 41.27.
The race was the 9th and final one of the Bennett Cup series, a keenly contested set of handicap races which take place over the Winter months. Going into the last race a number of Club members could have won the overall title but John Fenwick extended his lead to win the trophy with 354 points with Gary Cook (322) second one point ahead of Gary Williams.
The race marked the end of an era as under new Cross Country Commission rules at all club fixtures next Winter all runners will be required to wear the electronic chips which have become increasingly used in road races.
These chips are expensive which will mean an increase in the cost of entry but there are benefits in terms of Health and Safety. The Chip System has been refined so all runners can be tracked while out on the courses using a satellite navigation system.
This will also aid marshals who will be able to tell when the last runner has passed. It will also be able to identify when runners have stopped for a walk, opening up the opportunity of fining the guilty parties and raise money for Club funds!
Prior to the race was the Club photo which is only taken every Olympic year and in the evening the Annual General Meeting took place at which the new Club President Tim Soutar was introduced. Full biographical details of Tim together with all the latest Club news and photos are on the website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
8:43am Tuesday 1st April 2008
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